When we were working on our concept for ULAH, we landed on creating “A Men’s Apparel & Lifestyle Store”. The “lifestyle” part of that concept is something we are both really passionate about. It comes to life through the assortment of products and services we provide and the experience we create in our store. To take it even further, we want to build relationships with our clients — and partnerships with other businesses in our community.

We really feel that men deserve better when it comes to relevant retail marketing and experiences. We’ve also been hearing guys say they would like to learn more about men’s health and wellness topics, products, and services. That’s why we’ve decided to openly explore this larger realm of wellness, and share our discoveries with the community.

In our series, you’ll see everything from new healthy eating options and workout ideas…to skin care, better shaving practices, and aesthetic procedures — all through our experiences with local businesses and service providers. And, of course, you’ll hear about our trials with new products that we bring into our store that can help men along their journey in achieving a lifestyle of wellness.

Thanks for being a part of our journey, being active in your Kansas City community, and supporting local! Stay tuned for more!

At ULAH, we like to really get to know our clients. What do they like about Kansas City? What role do they play in our community? What significance does men’s apparel have in their daily life? We sat down with our client and friend — Reece Hale, with Mission Hills Living Magazine — to hear the latest updates on what’s going on in his world.

What is your role at N2 Publishing & Mission Hills Living Magazine?

I’m a founding member of N2 Publishing. In 2005 we launched our first publications in Wilmington, North Carolina and St. Louis, MO where I lived for seven years prior to moving to Kansas City in 2011. In 2014, I founded Mission Hills Living and have a wonderful team of Mission Hills residents that help us create and produce the publication on a monthly basis.

What is your favorite thing about Kansas City?

What’s not to like!? My wife Katie and I are both sports fans; although, this has caused some division in our household since Katie is a die-hard Royals fan — and I will always give allegiance to the St. Louis Cardinals. However, we’ve managed to bridge the gap with our mutual love for the Kansas City Chiefs and Sporting KC.

We are both passionate about performing arts. My wife, Katie, has been a part of the Kansas City Symphony Chorus for the past couple of years. It’s amazing having the Kaufmann right here in our own back yard…it really is one of the most phenomenal performing arts centers in the world.

Mission Hills is the Kansas City community you’re focusing on with N2 Publishing. Why Mission Hills?

The people of Mission Hills is what makes that neighborhood such a gem. The stories…the rich history…and the life accomplishments of the residents are beyond any other community I’ve been a part of so far.

What are a few of your favorite places to go in Kansas City?

We really enjoy the locally owned establishments in Kansas City. We often go to eat at Joe’s KC BBQ and LuLu’s in Westwood. We also frequent Char Bar and Julep in Westport. Occasionally we escape to The Phoenix and watch live jazz on a Friday night. Saturdays, we like to venture down to the River Market and pick up fresh produce. You may even find us at Story in the Prairie Village Shops on a Sunday night, wrapping up the weekend with a fun dinner and a glass of wine.

Congratulations on being a new dad! You had a girl! How has that changed your day to day?

Being a dad is the best! One of my favorite things to do is cuddle with my new daughter, Zariah. We have a daily routine of singing and dancing together. I’ve found myself wanting to cut out of work a little earlier each day to get my Zariah fix! My wife, Katie, is an amazing mom. I’ve been making a point to help take care of cooking, cleaning and giving her time to recalibrate and enjoy some free time. It takes more effort and intention these days to maintain balance in our lives, but we love it!

I never know who I’ll be meeting day to day. While much of my job is remote, I typically meet with a handful of local business during the week. I could be sitting down with the owner of a landscaping company or a doctor or real estate agent — all in a given day or week. It’s important to me to look and feel professional, but accessible at the same time.

As an entrepreneur, I’ve never been a shirt and tie kind of guy, but have always appreciated being fashion conscious and unique. I know attire plays a big role in creating positive or negative impressions, and I’ve always found it important as a business owner to be memorable. I love being able to go from a meeting with clients to jumping into family time without skipping a beat. Having a wardrobe that can play in both spaces makes my life run a little smoother. And, to be candid, it just makes me feel good.

We get it. Life is crazy, and you’re busy running from one thing to the next. We’re constantly thinking of ways to make shopping easier for you. While we are building the back end of our e-commerce and other technology that will help make shopping easier, we wanted to make sure you knew what we have right now that can help you when you’re in a pinch or just want a little extra personal service.

You can text ULAH directly at 913-777-8734. Whether you have a quick question about a product, you need to rush by and pick up a wrapped gift, or you have a trip coming up and you want us to pull a rack of looks for you — text us with your first and last name and we will get moving on solving whatever problem you need help with.